Jen Garner’s Relationship Drama: Ben Affleck’s Flirty Behavior Strains Her Bond with John Miller

Jen Garner and Ben Affleck looked quite cozy while attending their son Samuel’s 13th birthday party at the Combat Paintball Park just outside of L.A. on March 2. At one point, the former couple — who split in 2015 — were seen walking side by side as Ben laughed animatedly; at another, Ben was spotted affectionately putting his arms around Jen’s waist as she fired her paintball rifle. Their physicality drew speculation that things weren’t over between the two, especially in the wake of Ben’s much-publicized divorce from Jennifer Lopez, which was finalized in January. Jen G’s boyfriend of seven years, businessman John Miller, wasn’t immune to the buzz, a source told Star days after the paintball outing. “No one would blame John for making Jen choose,” added the insider, warning, “but any ultimatum could only lead to heartbreak.”

Yet just one week later, the Cali Group and PopID CEO seemed to be offering his own challenge. On March 9, John reportedly skipped his usual weekend date night with Jennifer. Instead, the 47-year-old was spotted hanging out with his ex-wife and mom to his two kids, violinist Caroline Campbell, in L.A. The two then got into a car together and departed for an unknown destination. “A lot of people think John was sending Jen a message by being seen with Caroline,” a source tells Star, adding that the tech exec was signalling that he’d reached his limit with Jen and Ben’s continued close relationship. Says the source: “John is understandably losing his patience.”

Crossing The Line

Jen and Ben, both 52, have been on good terms since their divorce, and are often seen together at their kids’ events. (They also share Violet, 19, and Fin, 16.) So much so that in January, when the L.A. fires began to rage in his Brentwood neighborhood, Ben raced to shelter at Jen’s nearby home. They also volunteered together on Thanksgiving in late 2024 before celebrating as a family, and she’s been spotted letting herself into his gated property. While John has been understanding, he can only take so much. “Nobody denies Jen and Ben the right to stay friendly, especially as they’re coparenting three kids,” explains the source. “But the fact that Jen is now cuddling up to Ben in public and spending more time at his house is taking things to a whole new level.”

John’s growing wary of Ben’s near-constant presence and his flirty behavior. “He can see that Ben’s totally sweet on Jen and clearly trying to woo her back,” reveals the source. (There are reports J.Lo is also furious about Ben’s closeness with his first wife.) Jen’s reassurances to the contrary are starting to fall on deaf ears. “She’s told John that Ben has no intention of making any moves on her and that they’re like brother and sister, and that she wouldn’t have any interest romantically even if Ben did make a move,” says the source. “She’s explained that they need to get along for the kids’ sake, but John’s not buying that.”

It doesn’t help that Jen seems to be at Ben’s beck and call. “Ben is blatantly codependent with Jen, and John resents that Ben leans so heavily on her,” says the source. Back in 2018, Jen was photographed driving Ben to rehab after he relapsed — it was reported that she’d staged an intervention. (The Accountant 2 actor has been open about his struggles with addiction over the years.) “It’s like Ben expects Jen to drop everything whenever he snaps his fingers,” says the source. “John is tired of it.”

Wake-Up Call

The source reveals that John’s friends are worried that Jen seems to keep him at arm’s length. For starters, the Yes Day actress, who split from John briefly in 2020 before reuniting with him in 2021, didn’t introduce her boyfriend’s kids to her own until 2022. “John has met Jen’s kids, and they like him, but it’s by no means a regular thing for them all to spend time together. She keeps that very separate,” says the source. “It’s like she keeps John apart from her family in a lot of ways.”

It looks like he’s hoping Jen got a taste of her own medicine after his recent outing with Caroline, and maybe she’ll understand his point of view. “Now Jen can see for herself what it’s like,” says the source, adding, “It’ll be interesting how she reacts.”